Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson expects year-end crime data to show that crime in the city fell 8 percent in 2013 despite a disturbing number of homicides.

It was a year marred by 22 killings, matching the total from 2011. But it was a significant increase from the 14 homicides in 2012. Last year had appeared disturbingly violent during a summer in which the city racked up 9 homicides from June 5 to July 19 alone.

But some year-end data that should be revealed during today's Compstat monthly police management meeting could show crime slowed considerably in the fall and winter.

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"In terms of homicides, we know what that number is and we had way too many homicides and too many fatal accidents," Epperson said. "But in terms of burglaries, those are down dramatically and our overall numbers are down."

Epperson said he expects violent crimes to be down 2 percent and property crime to be down about 10 percent when the final numbers are revealed.

The goal was to reduce both types of crime by 5 percent each, Epperson said.